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A moment of bizarre nostalgia...

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A moment of bizarre nostalgia...

Old 01-26-15, 02:57 PM
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A moment of bizarre nostalgia...

...for the early days of the fixed gear craze! I drank pretty deep of that particular kool-aid, riding fixed exclusively for a few years. Last night I got to thinking about all those bikes, the obsession with horizontal dropouts, chain line, neon colours and the whole bit. Anyway, my brother gave me this purple Gardin frame for Christmas. I wasn't sure where to go with it until this little, distant voice from the past cried out "that would make a cool fixie!"

So here it is! Excel tubing, unknown model of Gardin. I guess if I was going to make it "period correct " it should've had flop and chop bars, but I didn't have any bars I wanted to do that to. Enjoy! Or not?
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Old 01-26-15, 03:10 PM
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I like it!
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Old 01-26-15, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by icepick_trotsky
I like it!
Thanks. I like your avatar! Here are some more pics...









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Old 01-26-15, 03:30 PM
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How do you like the TA as a single? I have one currently set up as a triple, but I'm parting that bike out and considering moving the crank to my new 1x8 build. Any thoughts on spindle length?
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Old 01-26-15, 03:34 PM
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Yep, great fixie. My fixie bug is still going strong after 5 years. Now with more brakes, locks, bells and fenders though.
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Old 01-26-15, 03:42 PM
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Now we need pictures of you with thebike in our skinny jeans. Hopefully with some spray paint graffiti in the background.

My fixie stage only lasted about a week, the hills around here killed me.
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Old 01-26-15, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by icepick_trotsky
How do you like the TA as a single? I have one currently set up as a triple, but I'm parting that bike out and considering moving the crank to my new 1x8 build. Any thoughts on spindle length?
Works great as a single. I ordered a 113 BB from velo orange, but you could probably go shorter. My crank is very old and goes further down on the spindle than it should, so that's why I erred on the side of longer. The only concern I'd have with a 1 x 8 is because of the low q factor you'd have to be careful that the chain didn't rub the crank arm in your highest gear, but that would depend on the specific set-up.

Originally Posted by Italuminium
Yep, great fixie. My fixie bug is still going strong after 5 years. Now with more brakes, locks, bells and fenders though.
I went through a brakeless phase too, but found that I just ended up riding really slowly, which seemed pointless!
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Old 01-26-15, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by KOBE
Now we need pictures of you with thebike in our skinny jeans. Hopefully with some spray paint graffiti in the background.

My fixie stage only lasted about a week, the hills around here killed me.
LOL I may actually be able to accomplish this request!
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Old 01-26-15, 03:52 PM
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Yeah, riding with a front brake makes my antics worse. Btw the more I look at that frame the more I love it. Real 90's Italian chic, so sharp with that straight fork and all. Your brother has an excellent taste in bikes!
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Old 01-26-15, 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Italuminium
Yeah, riding with a front brake makes my antics worse. Btw the more I look at that frame the more I love it. Real 90's Italian chic, so sharp with that straight fork and all. Your brother has an excellent taste in bikes!
Thanks - I love the frame too. I've never had a frame made of Excel tubing, it's actually very light. The whole bike weighs 16.5 lbs., which is not setting any records but not bad for a 58cm frame. My brother has excellent taste in everything, with the possible exception of women.
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Old 01-26-15, 04:39 PM
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I rode my fixie to work today, still love that thing. Mine has been "drewed" and rattle canned, so I don't even know what it originally was, a Sekine I think. Yours is gorgeous!
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Old 01-26-15, 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by JAG410
I rode my fixie to work today, still love that thing. Mine has been "drewed" and rattle canned, so I don't even know what it originally was, a Sekine I think. Yours is gorgeous!
Thank you! Looking forward to riding this on the street - I just put it together a couple of hours ago so it's only done circles in the living room so far. Last year I rode a fixed gear for a lot of the Winter and found it actually gave me more control when the roads were slippery, although riding through the ice-storm on 21mm tubulars had its hair-raising moments...
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Old 01-26-15, 04:55 PM
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Where's the brake lever?
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Old 01-26-15, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by seedsbelize
Where's the brake lever?
I was going to ask that myself. I like vintage SS conversions. I just wish they 2 brake levers. Still an excellent build. I wish my bikes looked half that nice.
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Old 01-26-15, 05:31 PM
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I can appreciate your need to build a single speed bike. Takes me back too. I used to love riding an old track bike and enjoyed many years of commuting on one. No brakes, just your wits and a little luck. I still have 3 track bikes that take me around the block to relive my past. I will always have a track bike.
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Old 01-26-15, 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by devinfan
...for the early days of the fixed gear craze! I drank pretty deep of that particular kool-aid, riding fixed exclusively for a few years. Last night I got to thinking about all those bikes, the obsession with horizontal dropouts, chain line, neon colours and the whole bit. Anyway, my brother gave me this purple Gardin frame for Christmas. I wasn't sure where to go with it until this little, distant voice from the past cried out "that would make a cool fixie!"

So here it is! Excel tubing, unknown model of Gardin. I guess if I was going to make it "period correct " it should've had flop and chop bars, but I didn't have any bars I wanted to do that to. Enjoy! Or not?
Seems pretty tasteful and practical, for a fixie
Front brake is sine qua non, and I assume the gearing is optimised for your typical mission profile, or else modified as needs dictate.
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Old 01-26-15, 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by cs1
I was going to ask that myself. I like vintage SS conversions. I just wish they 2 brake levers. Still an excellent build. I wish my bikes looked half that nice.
If I was planning on using this as an SS I would definitely have 2 brakes, but since it's a dedicated fixed there's no need for a rear.

Originally Posted by Gary Fountain
I can appreciate your need to build a single speed bike. Takes me back too. I used to love riding an old track bike and enjoyed many years of commuting on one. No brakes, just your wits and a little luck. I still have 3 track bikes that take me around the block to relive my past. I will always have a track bike.
Do you still ride brakeless?!? I'm impressed. You must be pretty good at skids if that's the case, a skill that always eluded me.

Originally Posted by old's'cool
Seems pretty tasteful and practical, for a fixie
Front brake is sine qua non, and I assume the gearing is optimised for your typical mission profile, or else modified as needs dictate.
Thanks! Gearing is 44/16, which is fairly low, but I prefer it that way in the Winter. I like spinning when it's cold!
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Old 01-26-15, 08:09 PM
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You could put a leather saddle and a TA crank on a turd and C&V would fawn over it.

But yeah, it's a nice ride you have there.
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Old 01-26-15, 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by devinfan
Do you still ride brakeless?!? I'm impressed. You must be pretty good at skids if that's the case, a skill that always eluded me.
Yes, still brakeless but much more careful now. I could never skid and I had few near misses. I remember living in Christchurch NZ in the mid 70's and riding a fixed wheel. If I went flat-out down the main street of Christchurch I could get all the green lights but If I was a little slower that morning I would hit a changing light and had to do a pretty tight turn to enter the crossroad just ahead of the traffic crossing my original path. Stupid and scary.

Here is a quick pic of my current track bikes - love 'em.

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Old 01-27-15, 06:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Gary Fountain
Yes, still brakeless but much more careful now. I could never skid and I had few near misses. I remember living in Christchurch NZ in the mid 70's and riding a fixed wheel. If I went flat-out down the main street of Christchurch I could get all the green lights but If I was a little slower that morning I would hit a changing light and had to do a pretty tight turn to enter the crossroad just ahead of the traffic crossing my original path. Stupid and scary.



Here is a quick pic of my current track bikes - love 'em.

Now those are some seriously cool bikes. Fantastic picture too, thanks for the wallpaper! Awesome.
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Old 01-27-15, 07:04 AM
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Thanks devinfan.
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Old 01-27-15, 07:35 AM
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OK. But what happened in your grail teaser thread????
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Old 01-27-15, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by devinfan
...for the early days of the fixed gear craze!....... Last night I got to thinking about all those bikes, ......neon colours....... and the whole bit. ?

Made me smile then sigh! I read "early days of the fixed gear craze" and I'm thinking Ephgrave, Hetchins and Hobbs when a Flamboyant green or red paint job was...well flamboyant! And your thinking Neons and Graffiti, skinny jeans and PBR! Nice to see the tradition continues on.

Beautiful conversion, now as they say, "ride it like you stole it!"
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Old 01-27-15, 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by rootboy
OK. But what happened in your grail teaser thread????
Oh, it's not going to happen. It was basically a trade that didn't work out. Not the seller's fault, he's a good guy, he just changed his mind. Anyhow since I'm not going to be the owner, maybe someone else will. It was a beautiful custom Cyclops frame in amazing condition, with a raised head and seat-tube. It's still for sale. I don't need it anyway, I always have to remind myself that happiness is about appreciating what you have. Here it is if anyone is interested, it looks even better in person:

CUSTOM 55cm CYCLOPS FRAME & FORK
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Old 01-27-15, 08:38 AM
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That's one fancy commode.
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